Straying away from the highly populated area of Clapham North and towards the unknown territory of Stockwell is Circle Bar, a fairly unsuspecting looking pub from the outside, with a sign advertising its large TV screen. There is also a lifesize astronaut perching on the roof. No really, there is.
Inside, low wooden tables and leather sofas are interspersed with dining tables and chairs. A large mirror covers one wall, there’s a DJ area in one corner and a roaring fire going at the opposite end of the room (we may be approaching May, but this is England after all). A large beer garden with an unlikely gravel floor beckons.
The menu is entirely made up of Thai food, a cuisine which is now offered by many pubs, and a choice that has always puzzled me. Is it because the spices typical of this food encourage pubgoers to drink more? Or cynicism aside, is it just a popular choice, like Indian curry?
It could simply be the latter, as the food at Circle Bar is really quite tasty. The menu is divided into salads, stir fries, noodles (including the uber-favourite Pad Thai) and curries (amongst these the classic green, yellow and red varieties) as well as starters. The Moo Ping, or grilled pork on skewers (£4.50) is moderately spicy, with just a hint of coconut and served with a homemade spicy ground rice sauce.
I opt for the green curry (£6.95) as my main, this being a favourite Thai dish of mine. The fragrant coconut milk flavours the tender pieces of chicken, pepper, courgette and mushroom; the accompanying rice is charmingly moulded into the shape of a star on my plate.
The egg noodle stir fry with chicken and mixed vegetables (£7.95) does what it says on the tin, it’s tasty and filling and the soy sauce is just about perceptible. Every dish arrives with a decoration carved out of vegetables, a curious touch that seems to be de rigeur at South East Asian restaurants – it’s no wonder as the kitchen staff are Thai themselves, and are clearly doing their best to preserve authenticity in both taste and presentation.
Clapham is bustling with gastropubs and bars offering various culinary delights, however Circle Bar has the added allure of reasonable prices - main courses don’t go above £7.95. And the drinks? Classic cocktails are £6.50, or there’s decently priced wine and beer. Can the astronaut be tempted to come down?
